This archive report was first published on 18 July 2019.
Published on July 18, 2019, a study by Wellkid, a children's vitamins brand, has shed light on the differences in parenting styles between mums and dads.
According to the study, which polled 2,000 parents, mums are more likely to be the stricter parent when it comes to daily routines such as homework, screen time, and mealtime. In fact, 46% of parents believe mums are most likely to ensure their children complete their homework, compared to just 14% who say this falls to dad.
Similarly, mums are more likely to decide how long children should spend watching TV or playing computer games, with 37% of parents saying mum makes the call, compared to 22% who say dad does. Mums are also more likely to be strict about what their children eat, with 43% of parents saying mum decides on fruit and veg consumption, compared to just 12% who say dad does.
However, when it comes to discipline and bad behavior, dads take charge. 31% of parents believe dads are most likely to be strict, compared to 28% who say mum.
The study also revealed that four in 10 parents adopt a 'good cop, bad cop' approach to parenting, with one parent taking the lead on being the 'strict one'. And it seems mums are taking that title, with 41% of parents saying mum is the stricter parent in their household, compared to just 31% who say dad.
But what's behind these differences in parenting styles? The study suggests that it's all about negotiation. 64% of parents believe the act of parenting is just a constant round of negotiations with children, with the average adult spending 24 minutes a day doing 'deals' with their offspring.
So, who is the stricter parent? The stats are clear: mums are more likely to be the stricter parent when it comes to daily routines, while dads take charge of discipline and bad behavior.
